Pocket-case for cigarettes or cigars.



No. 695,9!4. Patented Mar. 25,, I902. a. H. CRESSLEB.

v POCKET CASE FOR GIGARETTES 0R CIGARS.

(Application filed Aug. 18, 1900.)

(No Model.)

a minimum .llllllm; Q

WITNESSES: 'l/VVENTOI? 4 A TTORNE rs.

turn @TATES GEORGE H. CRESSLER, OF FORT \VAYNE, INDIANA.

POCKETCASE FOR CIGARETTES OR CIGARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,914, dated March 25, 1902.

Application filed August 18, 1900. Serial No. 27,236. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. CRESSLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen, in the State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket-Gases for Cigarettes or Cigars; and I.do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pocket-cases for cigars or cigarettes.

It is well known that in the pocket cases or boxes now in general use for cigarettes and certain kinds of cigars it is inconvenient to extract the contents for use, particularly if the box or case is filled, for the reason that the tops of the cigarettes are slightly below the top of the case or box, an arrangement made necessary by the style of lid or closing end flap in general use in such cases or boxes.

The object of my present inventionis to provide an improved portable cigarette case or box in which the cigarettes can be readily elevated in their containing-case to facilitate their removal.

My invention consists of a pocket case or box for cigarettes provided with a fixed internally-arranged lifting-flap normally resting upon the bottom and adjacent sides of the box and adapted to raise the contents sufliciently above the top of the box to be readily grasped by the fingers of the operator.

The novel feature ofmy invention resides in the means for elevating the contents of the box above the top thereof for the convenient selection and removal of a cigarette or cigar.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference-nu merals indicate like parts throughout, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a common form of cigarette-box, broken away in part, showing my improved lifting-fiap in its normal position therein. Fig. 2 is a side view of a cigarette box or case filled, with the said fiap shown dotted in position and one side of the box broken away. Fig. 3 is a side View of a filled case or box, partly broken away, showing the approximate position the contents assume when the lifting flap is raised.

The box or case 1 of any suitable form, dimensions, or material, but preferably of rectangular form, adapted to contain ten cigarettes 2 in two rows and made of one-piece paper blanks, has its open top closed by a folding flap 3, whose outer portion 4 is adapted in closing the top to be received snugly within the said top in a well-understood manner, said flap 3 being arranged along one of the broad sides of the box. To the inner face of one of the narrow upright sides 5 is pasted or otherwise secured the inner end 6 of the lifting flap or strip 7, which rests loosely on the bottom of the box or case 1, is continued upward adjacent to the inner face of the opposite side, and has its free end 8 outwardly bent and of a proper length to form a handle for operating the said lifting-fiap 7 and protrudes from the top of the box or case when the lid 3 is closed. It will be observed, however, that the free end S of the strip 5 projects beyond the box 1 at a point adjacent to the closing-flap 3 and works in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the flap 3. As it is the purpose of the present invention to maintain the end 8 always at the ex terior of the box to be readily grasped when desired, it is obvious that this position of the end 8 enables the same to always project beyond the box, so that the flap 3 when being closed is not liable to fold upon the end 8. The latter therefore always remains exposed.

The manner of employing my improvement thus described is obvious and, briefly stated, is as follows: When the cigarettes are in position in the said box or case, they rest upon the horizontal inner portion of the said flap, which in turn rests upon the bottom of the said case, and the top of the cigarettes will be flush with the top of the case. When it is desired to extract a cigarette 2 for use, the operator lifts up on the said. flap-handle 8, thereby elevating the said contents into approximately the position shown in Fig. 3, after which they can readily and conveniently be removed at pleasure. The operator then pushes downward on the flap 7 and forces the contents back to their normal position, as shown in Fig. 2,-after which thelid 3 can be closed, leaving the free end 8 protruding at all times.

Evidently the containing-case 1 may be made in a great variety of forms and can be made of many kinds of material, as of aluminium or leather or other flexible material. The lid or top 3 can be omitted, if desired, and the said case can be adapted to be used for cigars as well as cigarettes, the said lifting-flap performing the same function in either case.

Having thus described myiuvention and manner of using the same, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a case or holder for cigarettes and analogous articles, comprising a box having one of its ends closed and a closingfiap hinged to its open end, and a flexible lifting-strip arranged in said box and having one of its ends projecting on the exterior of the box and at a point to move in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the closing-flap, Whereby said projecting end is always maintained at the exterior of the box and in convenient position to be grasped for elevating the contents of the box.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a case or holder forcigarettes and analogous articles, comprising a box having one of its ends closed and a closing-flap hinged to its open end, and a flexible lifting-strip arranged in said box and having oneof its ends secured to one side of the box, said strip traversing the bottom and sides of the box and providing a support for the contents, the free end of said strip projecting on the exterior of the box and at a point to niove in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the closing-flap, whereby said projecting end is always maintained at the exterior of the box and in convenient position to be grasped for elevating the contents of the box.

Signed by me at Fort Wayne, Allen county, State of Indiana, this 15th day of August, A. D. 1900.

GEORGE H. CRESSLER. lVitnesses:

ALICE KEARNS, WATTs P. DENNY. 

